How to Landscape With Green Giant Arborvitae

Green Giant arborvitae trees (Thuja plicata "Green Giant") reach extreme heights with a narrow pyramidal habit for larger-than-life interest in the home landscape. These aromatic evergreen trees can grow to 200 feet, though they typically reach approximately 50 to 60 feet with a spread of 15 to 25 feet. With deep green dense needled foliage and tiny brown cones, Green Giant arborvitaes offer both visual impact and a wide variety of uses in the home landscape, growing most successfully in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 8.

Care

1

Provide consistent care to Green Giant arborvitae trees, as healthy plants are more likely to avoid and recover from problems such as pests and diseases than poorly maintained trees. Grow these evergreens in areas of the garden that provide full sun to partial shade.

2

Maintain moist, well-drained soil high in organic content for best growth; these trees tolerate most soil types. Avoid waterlogged conditions.

3

Design

1

Use Green Giant arborvitaes as specimen trees in large landscapes, as they will overwhelm a small garden. Plant this evergreen where it has ample room and utilize the dense foliage and tall graceful appearance for visual beauty and shade. Plant Green Giant arborvitae for annual use as a Christmas tree in a spacious front yard.

2

Landscape with Green Giant arborvitaes as mass plantings, particularly surrounding a property. Plant the trees spaced out along a fence or in place of a fence to act as a physical border between properties or to delineate a particular area of the landscape.

3

Create a screen of Green Giant arborvitaes by planting them next to one another, creating a wind barrier or lending a heightened sense of privacy to the landscape. Plant Green Giant arborvitae trees about 15 feet apart.

Things You Will Need

Pruning shears

Gardening gloves

Tip

Plant Green Giant arborvitae trees in place of Leyland cypresses, particularly as a screen plant, if the high disease susceptibility of Leyland cypress is a concern.

Warning

Always wear gardening gloves to prevent injury when working with sharp tools such as pruning shears.

About the Author

Tarah Damask's writing career began in 2003 and includes experience as a fashion writer/editor for Neiman Marcus, short fiction publications in "North Texas Review," a self-published novel, band biographies, charter school curriculum and articles for various websites. Damask holds a Master of Arts in English and creative writing from the University of North Texas.